Identity

There are so many complexities that may define us as a person. In fact, there are a plethora of areas one may fit into within the diverse population of the United States. Identity is extremely important to people because it helps define them and it gives them a sense of self belonging. never realized how easily our identities can be altered. A dramatic life experience may occur, such as a rape or war victim, or it can be altered simply by getting a tattoo. Thus, I love how finding your identity is a lifelong endeavor because we can always "change"/experience new things if we want to! We can also retain something that we have forgotten and left behind in the past. This gives so much more flavor to life and it creates a sense of excitement in finding yourself. Unfortunately, this can be difficult to do...So how do we identify ourselves? Luckily this can be split into two different categories to help give a better understanding!
On the micro level, I realized that I have advanced a lot at. Living where I did, entering new schools, making new friends, losing friends, and deaths of family members have helped develop into the person I am today. This helped me look at my life in a positive aspect. It is inevitable that people will have both good and bad experiences in life, but in the end they both will make you stronger.

In the United States, physical appearance tends to determining factor for the way we categorize one another. Our physical appearance can determine an individuals happiness and places them in a specific group. Today, many people are unhappy with the way they look so they go about changing whatever they can. It is unfortunate that this country is so carried away with the physical aspects of people because it causes segregation, stereotyping, and racism. Eating disorders, outrageous plastic surgeries, and a excessive desire to look better then the next person is evident everywhere.

In the book Women's Lives, it stated that some Asian American women have eye surgery to "Europeanize" their eyes (63). With this in mind, we can see how discrimination/categorization for possessing a distinctive characteristic many effect someone. Instead of being ashamed of this it should be embraced. However, society is so critical and eager to find out people's backgrounds etc., it is hard to obtain. "Many Americans see their values and institutions as an example to others, and their way of life as something to which others should universally aspire" (Burman 98). This ties in with the fact how an individual thinks others should they look as if they do and live as they do. this only occurs because it's the only way they know, people can be narrow minded. Looking at others with different lifestyles ( ie gay/transgendered or Latino/Muslin) are looked down upon. In return, hatred comes into play.